Jeff Bezos Sells $665.8 Million Worth of Amazon Stock as Part of 25 Million Share Plan

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos sold 3 million shares of Amazon stock worth $665.8 million in July. This is part of a plan to sell up to 25 million shares by May 2026. Bezos retains over 90 million Amazon shares valued at nearly $200 billion. The sale occurred after his high-profile wedding in Venice, attended by notable figures. Despite these sales, Bezos remains Amazon's largest shareholder and serves as chairman.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos sold nearly 3 million shares of Amazon stock worth $665.8 million over two days in July, according to a regulatory filing [1]. This sale is part of a broader plan announced earlier this year, which aims to see Bezos unload up to 25 million shares through May of 2026. The latest transaction follows a significant stock sale in June, where Bezos sold $736.7 million worth of shares [2].

Bezos, who stepped down as Amazon CEO in 2021, still holds over 900 million shares of Amazon, valued at close to $200 billion. Despite the recent sales, he remains the largest shareholder of the company and serves as chairman. The stock sale comes shortly after his high-profile wedding to Lauren Sanchez in Venice, which was attended by notable figures including Ivanka Trump, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and several Kardashians [1].

The latest sale is part of a pattern where Bezos has been gradually reducing his stake in Amazon. As of June 30, 2025, Bezos owned around 905 million Amazon shares, a nearly 9% drop compared to June 30, 2023 [2]. This gradual divestment is typical for company founders, often done to diversify personal investments, fund new ventures, or support philanthropic efforts.

Bezos’ reduced stake is also influenced by his divorce. His former wife, MacKenzie Scott, still owns 112 million Amazon shares despite selling more than half her holdings over the past two years [2]. Even after the latest sale, Bezos remains Amazon’s largest individual shareholder, with a stake worth just under $200 billion based on Amazon’s current stock price of $219.70 [2].

The shift in Bezos’ ownership structure signals a growing influence of major investment firms in Amazon’s ownership. Institutions like Vanguard Group, BlackRock, State Street Global Advisors, and Fidelity are closing the gap, with Vanguard holding a 7.8% stake [2]. While Bezos still tops the shareholder list with 8.5% of the company, the trend indicates a potential shift in the company’s direction as institutional investors gain more influence.

References:
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/08/jeff-bezos-amazon-stock-sale.html
[2] https://financialbuzz.com/jeff-bezos-offloads-737m-in-amazon-stock/
[3] https://www.tradingview.com/news/tradingview:c93ae33e32708:0-jeffrey-p-bezos-sells-nearly-3-million-amazon-shares/